Afghanistan- 'Soon' additional 7,000 Taliban detainees will be released: Stanikzai

(MENAFN - Khaama Press) Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, deputy head of the Taliban's political office in Qatar says 7,000 prisoners will soon be released from the Afghan government's prisons. He tweeted on Sunday that in addition to the release of 7,000 Taliban detainees, Taliban leaders will also be removed from the UN's blacklist. Although Stanikzai did not elaborate further on his claim, reports indicate that the group has made the request for prisoners' swap before halt in peace talks and delay of US/NATO troops withdrawal from Afghanistan. Previously Hamdullah Mohib, National Security Advisor, referring to the reported demand of the Taliban to release more of the group's detainees said the Taliban should ensure the Afghan government that they are not demanding the release of drug traffickers. He urged the Taliban to not call for further release of the prisoners. First Vice President Amrullah Saleh, also had said that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan does not have any plans to release additional Taliban prisoners. He criticized the release of more than 5,000 Taliban militants saying 'it was a wrong move' and a mistake. Saleh claimed that the released militants had rejoined the Taliban on battlefields despite their commitment with the Afghan government for not returning back to war. Saleh also stressed that the Afghan government would not make the same mistake again and would not release the remaining Taliban prisoners.MENAFN26042021000228011069ID1101983635